The key word in the show title Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring The Rockettes is "spectacular." The Rockettes' signature performance style has never been what you could call subtle, and this year they've kicked everything up a few notches (literally). One of our picks for Sunday, Radio City Christmas Spectacular is a must-see for the holidays.
Expect all-new, bigger, brighter, more colorful musical numbers including New York at Christmas (the Rockettes climb on board a life-size double-decker bus and, with the help of a 50-foot LED screen, give the audience a tour of New York City). In another scene, dozens of Santas dance across the stage...maybe we should say hundreds of dancing Santas; the dozens of live dancers are mirrored, seemingly to infinity, on an upstage video screen. Watch for the Rockettes' impressive tumbling line during "The Parade of Wooden Soldiers" and their fun, spirited version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" (since this is The Rockettes, yes, there's a kickline). Other numbers include scenes from The Nutcracker, a visit to Santa's workshop and a living nativity. The crescendo ending to the show is, of course, an onstage appearance by Santa Claus. (Pay close attention to his reindeer -- they look suspiciously like Rockettes!)
Times vary daily. Through December 28. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby. For information, call 800‑952‑6560 or visit houston.broadway.com. $41 to $161.50.
One of our favorite holiday traditions (along with wearing shorts on Christmas day and binge-eating holiday tamales) has to be the Houston Symphony's Very Merry Pops, which is one of our picks for Sunday. In a Jones Hall decked out for the holiday season, the symphony (conducted by Michael Krajewski) will perform traditional standard Christmas classics including "Winter Wonderland," "Sleigh Ride" and "Angels We Have Heard on High." "Little Drummer Boy," "O Holy Night" and more seasonal favorites are also on the program. The Houston Symphony Chorus, under the direction of Betsy Cook Weber, provides vocal accompaniment.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Jones Hall for the Performing Arts, 615 Louisiana. For information, call 713-224-7575 or visit houstonsymphony.org. $25 to $134.
Jessica Goldman and Bob Ruggiero contributed to this post.